Bagshot Heath from South Hill Park
Walk from the free car park at South Hill Park through their grounds and across to Caesar's Camp and round Bagshot Heath looping back via Rapley Lake to The Look Out (cafe) and back to South Hill Park (cafe and arts centre)
Description
Park at South Hill Park.
(S/E) Follow the path South along the stream and through the houses to Nine Mile Road.
(1) Turn right/west and follow the path alongside Nine Mile Road and take the first left turn across the road into the woodland.
(2) Head south along the path across Caesar's Camp - hill fort.
(3) After the gate out of Caesar's Camp, there are 4 paths to choose from. Take the second from the left at 11 o'clock. Follow this path for quite a while across to Lower Star Post (labelled on signpost).
(4) At Lower Star Post head due south - take path 4th from the right to Wishmoor Bottom.
(5) Before you get to the overhead electricity line, fork left at the crossroads (these are the 3rd junction after Lower Star Post) you will then cross a stream then a path to the right and one to the left before reaching a crossroad.
(6) This is the crossroad where you turn left just at the overhead powerline. Follow this path for a while until you reach a clear fork to the left (10 o'clock).
(7) Turn left (10 o'clock) at this fork up to Rapley Lake where you will walk along the lake with the lake on your right hand side. Walk beyond the end of the lake to the first crossroad.
(8) Turn right at this crossroad then turn 90 degrees right (not back on yourself) at the next junction then take the next left before Rapley Farm to head back over the heath/woodland. Follow this path across all junctions with a slight curve to the right until you get back to Nine Mile Road. The Look Out Centre is to your right (toilets and cafe)
(9) At Nine Mile Road, cross and walk along the path straight ahead behind the John Llyod Sports Centre until you get to the road: Ringmead
(10) Turn right along Ringmead for a short distance round the corner and take the first path left between the houses heading east towards South Hill Park. Cut through the houses and head right and you come out on the grounds of South Hill Park and can find your way back to the car park or to the main building for the cafe and toilets.(S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 82 m - South Hill Park
- 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 93 m - Nine Mile Road
- 2 : km 2.37 - alt. 129 m - Caesar's Camp
- 3 : km 4.16 - alt. 133 m - Caesar's Camp
- 4 : km 5.3 - alt. 106 m - Lower Star Post
- 5 : km 5.96 - alt. 109 m - Crossroad
- 6 : km 7.57 - alt. 97 m - Crossroad
- 7 : km 9.11 - alt. 84 m - Rapley Lake
- 8 : km 9.92 - alt. 98 m - Crossroad
- 9 : km 13.16 - alt. 109 m - Nine Mile Road
- 10 : km 13.46 - alt. 102 m - Ringmead
- S/E : km 14.38 - alt. 82 m - South Hill Park
Useful Information
There are many paths through the woodland and across the heath so it is easy to take the wrong one. Just keep an eye on the direction you are going in. Head North to get back and you will get to Nine Mile Road somewhere.
There is also an area closed off for army operations and sometimes there is a flag to warn of exercises that can make some noise. This area is to the west of our walk.
Bagshot Heath at the southern end of this walk is a conservation area and a place where nightjars, Dartford and other warblers nest in the summer. These are ground nesting birds so please keep any dogs on the lead / under control. There are areas where belted Galloway cattle are used to keep the scrub down on the heathland. Conservation volunteers also work on the heathland to support the habitat for these birds.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
South Hill Park is an Art Centre with Cafe, toilets and lovely grounds with lakes and mature trees.
The Look Out centre has a cafe, toilets, hands-on science museum, children's play area, mountain bike hire with signed trails.
Caesar's Camp is an old, possibly iron age? hill fort on the Roman Road.
